I have asked different government folks about the above mailing asking if it violates any election laws. My answers have varied. So, what do my readers think? Is this legal? THE ENTIRE MAILING HERE.
I would think mailing a REAL bill to a prospective donor is a no-no. But since when does Trump and his little dog killing sidekick ever follow rules?
I could go on and on about how awesome Ali Rae is, but most people already know that. I am here to plead with you to vote for Ali Rae and NOT Sue Peterson in District 13. Sue has consistently supported legislation that moves our state backwards but no surprise from person who has to pour holy water on state taxpayer owned property before having a meeting. Talk to any lobbyist in Pierre and they will tell you Sue Peterson is the most disliked legislator in Pierre because of her RADICAL NEO-CON policies and beliefs and her unwillingness to be Bi-Partisan in solving our state’s challenges. District 13 used to be a good district for Dems but it was gerrymandered into Lincoln county so we all know the battle to win this seat by a Democrat is a stretch and with so many Trump supporters in South Dakota it’s hard road to win as a Democrat. So I encourage people who support Ali Rae to give her money, volunteer for her, make calls for her, anything to send Sue packing.
The Sioux Falls School District and former Sioux Falls City Councilor Marshall Selberg got away with it.
And why wouldn’t they?
The school district allowed a candidate to use perjured forms, TWICE, with NO remedy.
Marshall Selberg PERJURED a finance form, possibly lied about his voter registration over the past year, and served OUT of his district for at least a year (a close friend of his confirmed to me he was living out of the SW district for at least a year.) AND he told a reporter on a phone that he was in fact living out of the district and that he needed to ‘move on with his post council life.’ So you moved out a year in advance to prepare for your future life?
These are ACTUAL crimes, not just ethic violations.
The media looked the other direction and local government officials who have the power to fight corruption and unethical behavior also looked the other way.
Where was the City Attorney? The State’s Attorney? The SOS? The Attorney General? The County Auditor(s)? The School District’s Super and Board and many more in City Government, including councilors, who dropped the ball.
And the media hid under a rock while they battled who can get a couple grand from the city a year for legals.
So why did the media help the school district and the city cover this up? Because by saying nothing, you are a part of the problem. You can’t blow your horn every year during Sunshine Week then hide when you see corruption and say nothing. Open government is a 24/7 thingy, not just when it is convenient for you to transcribe a press release.
I don’t think it was a conspiracy at all by the media, just plain old laziness.
I heard a rumor recently that a west coast organization was sniffing around in Sioux Falls looking for an opportunity to run ‘progressive independent candidates’. My source wouldn’t tell me the name of the organization, but passed my contact info along.
My assumption is that it is NO LABELS and they seem to have a vested interest in getting involved in local races like school board, county commission and city council.
As I understand it they are willing to assist campaigns, especially ones that are bi-partisan in nature, like a city council race.
I have been telling people I would like to see at least 3 solid candidates for each of the 4 city council races this next Spring, and it may happen.
Someone has already told me they are running for Neitzert’s NW district seat (he is term limited) and another person told me they are interested in running for a different district seat.
There has also been some recruitment efforts by Rick Knobe’s group, the Change Agents, the Patriot Ripple Effect (ultra right wing) and the South Dakota Democratic party.
I have been telling people who are actively recruiting or considering a run that Mayor MisTaken will have his 4 recruited, well groomed, christian, white lackeys in which he will endorse and feed shady PAC money to, and why wouldn’t he? It worked in the last election.
I can tell you that many who watch the council races closely have studied the shellacking the NON-PAUL candidates got in the last election, and they are not going to let it happen again.
UPDATE: I was off a bit, Salamun wins Rapid City mayor.
I will admit I knew about the election, but not until about 5 minutes ago I decided to research the candidates. I know nothing about any of them except for what I read today.
Just based on donations, I would give the victory to Estes, but since this is a plurality election, I think the three other men running would steal votes from Estes giving the victory to Armstrong (who is the only woman running).
I guess we will see.
Either way, these two will likely be in spots 1 and 2. Estes seems like a moderate businessman while Armstrong tends to be moderate to progressive.
I think it would be quite an upset tonight if Armstrong squeaks by.
l3wis